The Minnesota Vikings have struggled to find a steady starting quarterback, especially after Sam Darnold left and led another team to a Super Bowl win. The Vikings recently signed Kyler Murray to improve their quarterback options, and their star player Justin Jefferson commented positively on this addition, implying changes for the current QB J.J. McCarthy.
Key Facts
The Minnesota Vikings had a mixed season, with no consistent starting quarterback.
Former Vikings QB Sam Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl win after leaving Minnesota.
J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings' 2024 first-round draft pick, missed his expected rookie season due to injury and struggled when playing.
The Vikings signed Kyler Murray, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, to strengthen their quarterback lineup.
Justin Jefferson, the Vikings' top wide receiver, expressed support for adding talented players like Murray.
Jefferson is close with Darnold and was disappointed that Darnold was not retained by the Vikings.
The Vikings seem to favor Kyler Murray as their primary quarterback going into the new season.
McCarthy faces pressure due to injuries and inconsistency, with his starting job in doubt.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Jordan Martinook scored the winning goal in the second overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Ottawa Senators 3-2. Earlier, a goal that could have ended the game was overturned, and Martinook stopped a penalty shot in the first overtime.
Key Facts
The game was between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Ottawa Senators.
Jordan Martinook scored the winning goal at 13:53 of the second overtime.
A potential winning goal by the Hurricanes was overturned during the first overtime.
Martinook also stopped a penalty shot in the first overtime session.
The final score was 3-2 in favor of the Carolina Hurricanes.
The game went into two overtime periods before the winner was decided.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Yankees rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler and his family have received death threats before his first game at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. Despite the harassment, Schlittler is prepared for a tough and loud atmosphere from Red Sox fans.
Key Facts
Cam Schlittler is a 24-year-old rookie pitcher for the New York Yankees.
He is about to make his Fenway Park debut against the Boston Red Sox, a major rival team.
Schlittler and his family have been targeted with death threats and online harassment.
He grew up in Massachusetts and was once a fan of the Red Sox.
Schlittler said the threats come mainly from very dedicated baseball fans upset he plays for the Yankees.
He has not involved the police despite the threats.
Schlittler expects a hostile environment, including fans yelling and possibly throwing things during the game.
Last postseason, Schlittler helped the Yankees eliminate the Red Sox, which increased the tension with fans.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The president of TKO, the company that now owns WWE and UFC, said they are using more celebrities at WWE events to attract new fans. He admitted this could cause some long-time fans to leave but said the company is investing more in marketing and changing to stay relevant.
Key Facts
TKO owns WWE and UFC and is increasing celebrity involvement in WWE shows.
Celebrities like Logan Paul, Pat McAfee, and Mark Wahlberg appeared at WrestleMania 42.
The recent WrestleMania had many celebrity cameos and movie ads, noted by fans.
Mark Shapiro, TKO’s president, said they spend more money on marketing to grow the brand.
Shapiro admitted the celebrity push might lose some fans but thinks it will attract new ones.
TKO controls WWE storylines and is using celebrities to bring in newer audiences.
The strategy is compared to other sports leagues evolving to survive in today’s media landscape.
Expect more celebrity involvement at WWE events under TKO in the future.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award with a unanimous vote, receiving all 100 first-place votes. At 22 years old, he is the youngest player to earn the award and led the league in blocks for the third straight season.
Key Facts
Victor Wembanyama is the first player in NBA history to receive 100% of first-place votes for Defensive Player of the Year.
He plays center for the San Antonio Spurs.
Wembanyama led the NBA in blocks, averaging 3.1 blocks per game for the third consecutive season.
He is 22 years and 98 days old, making him the youngest winner of this award.
He also averaged career highs of 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this season.
The Spurs had the second-best record in the league during the season, at 62 wins and 20 losses.
Wembanyama joined David Robinson as Spurs players who won the Defensive Player of the Year award within their first three NBA seasons.
Other top vote-getters were Chet Holmgren (second), Ausar Thompson (third), Rudy Gobert (fourth), and Scottie Barnes (fifth).
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
UConn basketball player Solo Ball will miss the entire upcoming season due to wrist surgery and recovery. He is expected to return and play in the 2027-28 season after a medical redshirt year.
Key Facts
Solo Ball injured his wrist in a December game against Butler.
He will have surgery and miss the full next season due to recovery time.
Ball was leading UConn in scoring before the injury.
UConn coach Dan Hurley stated Ball will come back strong next season.
Ball will use a medical redshirt, meaning the lost season won’t count against his eligibility.
Other returning players for UConn include Silas DeMary Jr. and Braylon Mullins.
UConn added new players like Najai Hines and Nikolas Khamenia through transfers.
The team will need to fill the starting spot left open by Ball’s absence for the coming season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Jake Mangum, a new player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, made a young fan's day by throwing her a baseball during a game. The Pirates won against Mangum’s former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, and Mangum said seeing his jersey worn by a fan made the moment special.
Key Facts
Jake Mangum was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason.
Mangum noticed a young girl wearing a Pirates jersey with his name and number during a game.
He threw a baseball to the girl, which her brother caught and gave to her.
The Pirates won the game against the Rays.
Mangum said it was his first time seeing a fan wearing his jersey in the stadium.
The Pirates have a strong record of 13 wins and 9 losses early in the season.
The team will play the Texas Rangers next in an away game series.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Cincinnati Bengals traded their 2026 No. 10 overall draft pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II. Lawrence, who requested a trade, signed a one-year, $28 million contract extension with the Bengals after a less productive 2025 season.
Key Facts
The Bengals traded their 2026 No. 10 overall draft pick for Dexter Lawrence II.
This was the Bengals' first time trading a top-10 pick for a player since 1966.
Lawrence asked for a trade earlier in 2026.
The Giants held both the 5th and 10th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft after the trade.
Lawrence had a less productive 2025 season, with career lows in sacks, tackles, and quarterback hits.
The Giants wanted to keep Lawrence but agreed to the trade after offers from the Bengals.
The Bengals gave Lawrence a one-year, $28 million contract extension after acquiring him.
Lawrence is expected to improve the Bengals’ defense as he enters his age-29 season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Victor Wembanyama was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) unanimously at age 22, the youngest ever to win this award. He led the league in blocked shots for the third year in a row and is also a finalist for the MVP award.
Key Facts
Victor Wembanyama plays center for the San Antonio Spurs.
He is the first player to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award unanimously.
At 22, he is the youngest player to receive the DPOY award.
Wembanyama has led the NBA in blocked shots for three consecutive seasons.
The Spurs became the first team with four different players winning the DPOY award.
Wembanyama is one of only three players to win both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
He is a finalist for the MVP award alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić.
Winning the DPOY and being an MVP finalist guarantees multiple honors, including All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Team selections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Luke Kennard scored a playoff career-high 27 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in their Game 1 win over the Houston Rockets. Lakers coach JJ Redick encouraged Kennard to keep shooting often and aggressively as the team continues its playoff run.
Key Facts
Luke Kennard made 27 points in Game 1 against the Houston Rockets.
Kennard shot 9 of 13 shots overall and 5 of 5 from three-point range.
He joined the Lakers after a trade with the Atlanta Hawks before the 2025-26 trade deadline.
Kennard has led the NBA three times in three-point shooting percentage, including 47.8% this season.
Coach JJ Redick told Kennard to take more shots, even if the percentage is slightly lower.
Kennard is stepping up because key players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are out with injuries.
LeBron James scored 19 points and made 13 assists in Game 1.
The Lakers and Rockets will play Game 2 on Tuesday night at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The 2027 Tour de France Femmes will start in Britain, featuring tough cycling stages in northern England and ending with a team time trial in London. It will be the first time the women's race includes a team time trial and the first time both the men's and women's races begin in the same foreign country in the same year.
Key Facts
The 2027 women's Tour de France (Tour de France Femmes) will begin with a three-day Grand Depart in Britain.
The early stages include challenging routes in the Peak District hills and northern England.
The race will finish with an 18 km team time trial in central London on The Mall.
This is the first time the women's Tour de France will feature a team time trial.
Both the men's and women's races will start in Britain in 2027, marking the first joint foreign start for both races.
The first two British stages go from Leeds to Manchester and then Manchester to Sheffield.
Organizers expect the event to be the most attended women’s sporting event ever held in Britain.
The men's 2027 Tour de France Grand Depart will start in Edinburgh, then continue through the Lake District, Liverpool, and Wales.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
CJ McCollum scored 32 points as the Atlanta Hawks came from behind to beat the New York Knicks 107-106. This win tied their playoff series at one game each.
Key Facts
The game was played on Monday night.
The Atlanta Hawks won by one point, 107 to 106.
CJ McCollum scored 32 points for the Hawks.
The win evened the first-round playoff series to 1-1.
The match was part of the NBA playoffs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Los Angeles Lakers won Game 1 of their playoff series against the Houston Rockets without star player Luka Doncic, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Luka returned to limited practice, but it is unclear when he will play again. LeBron James and Luke Kennard helped lead the team to victory.
Key Facts
The Lakers beat the Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
Luka Doncic has a Grade 2 hamstring strain and missed Game 1.
Doncic traveled overseas for treatment and recently returned to Los Angeles.
He participated in limited practice before Game 2 but has no set return date.
Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ second-leading scorer, is out indefinitely with a Grade 2 oblique strain.
LeBron James scored 19 points, made 13 assists, and had 8 rebounds in Game 1.
Luke Kennard scored a playoff career-high 27 points, including five 3-pointers without a miss.
Game 2 between the Lakers and Rockets is scheduled for Tuesday night at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said a trade of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk during the 2026 NFL Draft is unlikely but possible. Aiyuk has not played since a knee injury in October 2024, and the 49ers are considering moving on from him after signing a new wide receiver.
Key Facts
The 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk have been separated for months following his knee injury.
John Lynch said the chance of trading Aiyuk during the 2026 NFL Draft is low but not impossible.
Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in October 2024 and has not played since.
The team voided guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s contract due to missed rehab appointments.
The 49ers previously signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million contract extension in August 2024.
Aiyuk had strong seasons in 2022 and 2023, with over 1,000 receiving yards each year.
The 49ers recently signed veteran wide receiver Mike Evans to replace Aiyuk.
Lynch said the team will review Aiyuk’s situation if he is not traded during the draft.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kevin Durant, a star player for the Houston Rockets, missed Game 1 of their playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a knee injury. The Rockets hope he can return for Game 2, but his status is uncertain because of swelling and limited movement in his knee.
Key Facts
Kevin Durant injured his knee in practice last week, causing him to miss Game 1 against the Lakers.
Durant has a deep patellar tendon bruise with swelling and pain affecting his leg movement.
The Rockets are hopeful Durant will return for Game 2, but his ability to play is still unclear.
Without Durant, the Rockets lost Game 1 despite strong performances from teammates Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr.
The Lakers are dealing with injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both out for the season.
Durant was traded to the Rockets last season to help the team succeed in the playoffs.
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
Durant is 37 years old and is seeking another NBA championship after winning with the Warriors in the past.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Troy Deeney, a BBC football expert, picked his best players and manager from the latest Premier League games. He highlighted key performances from several players across different teams, praising their important contributions during the matches.
Key Facts
Bernd Leno (Fulham) made a crucial save to keep a 0-0 draw against Brentford.
Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth) was praised for his power, energy, and scoring the winning goal against Newcastle.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) scored a late goal in the Merseyside derby as team captain.
Joachim Andersen (Fulham) helped his team keep a clean sheet against Brentford.
Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City) was described as Manchester City's best player this season, playing mostly as a left-back.
Xavi Simons (Tottenham) scored and assisted in a recent game but the team struggles overall.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) was seen as the standout player in a big win against Arsenal.
Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) impressed with his skill and a goal against Arsenal.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, former college teammates who won the 2025 national championship at UConn, are now playing together for the Dallas Wings after both were selected as No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA Draft. At the Wings' training camp, they demonstrated strong teamwork, with Bueckers praising Fudd’s shooting, defense, and overall basketball skills.
Key Facts
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd played four years together at UConn and won the 2025 national championship.
Bueckers was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings.
The Wings drafted Fudd as the No. 1 overall pick shortly after Bueckers.
The two players quickly resumed their on-court connection during Dallas Wings training camp.
Bueckers highlighted Fudd’s shooting ability (over 40% from three-point range), slashing, cutting, basketball IQ, and defensive impact.
The Wings had the No. 1 overall pick due to a 10-34 record in the 2025 season.
Past cases show teams picking No. 1 overall in consecutive years sometimes win championships within a few years.
The Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever (another team with recent No. 1 picks) will face off in the 2026 season opener.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers were injured on April 2 and missed most of the first playoff round. Doncic has returned to practice, which is a positive sign for his recovery, but both players are still unlikely to play in the upcoming games against the Houston Rockets.
Key Facts
Luka Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2.
Austin Reaves has a Grade 2 oblique strain from the same game.
Both injuries were expected to keep them out for most of the first playoff round.
The Lakers won Game 1 against the Houston Rockets with a score of 107-98.
Doncic returned to Lakers practice for the first time since his injury.
Reaves was also present at practice and worked on free throws.
Doncic traveled to Spain for treatment to speed up his hamstring recovery.
Their original return time was about a month, possibly late in the playoff series if it lasts six or seven games.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Fernando Mendoza is considered the best quarterback in the 2026 draft class, which is seen as weaker than past years. Experts believe Mendoza would rank fourth among quarterbacks if he entered the strong 2024 draft class.
Key Facts
Fernando Mendoza is the top quarterback pick expected in the 2026 NFL draft.
The 2026 quarterback class is considered weaker than recent years.
Scouts say Mendoza would be the fourth-best quarterback in the 2024 draft class.
The 2024 draft had top quarterbacks like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye.
Caleb Williams was the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, selected by the Chicago Bears.
Drake Maye led his team, the New England Patriots, to the Super Bowl in 2025.
If Mendoza performs like top players from the 2024 class by his second year, he will be a strong pick.
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft and plan to select Mendoza.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tottenham Hotspur is struggling to avoid relegation from the English Premier League after going 15 league games without a win. West Ham, Leeds, and Nottingham Forest are also fighting to stay up, while Wolves have already been relegated.
Key Facts
Tottenham has not won a league game in 15 matches and only two since October 26, 2025.
Tottenham needs to beat bottom club Wolves to avoid matching their worst-ever winless streak from 1934-1935.
West Ham drew with Crystal Palace, missing a chance to pull further ahead of Tottenham in the relegation fight.
Leeds United and Nottingham Forest have recently won home games and moved further away from the relegation zone.
Wolves have been relegated already and Burnley is expected to follow soon.
Tottenham’s last win was on December 28, 2025, and they have earned only 6 points from the last 15 games.
Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi believes his team can win five games in a row to survive.
Tottenham’s remaining matches include games against Wolves, Leeds, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Everton.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
